so... the same height that I am currently because according to the measuring wall that we write on in my grandmas cabin at Bear Lake I haven't grown taller since I was...

12....

Ok, maybe 13

I had a really unique opportunity.

My father is in fact an incredible artist and he started at this time in my life to work on a painting that would later be known as

"Neither Do I Condemn Thee"

that made it into the International LDS Museum of Art

{if you google it, it will pop up}

And just like all incredible works of art, this piece began long before it was actually physically in the museum.

It started as a thought that led to an idea that led to my dad asking me if I would pose for a picture for him to paint the scene he was looking for.

Turns out, my father has a best friend that is conveniently a photographer with a photo that also made it into this museum also :)

Scott Sumner takes pictures of a man that looks like Jesus Christ, portraying different scenes in the life of Jesus Christ.

By the time I got to the park that was the designated spot,

a park kind of hidden down in a big crevice of land under mountains with little column buildings and scenes that look like they are a trip back in time to that era,

the other "models" of different scenes being pictured were all dressed in their timely clothes, and the man portraying the Savior was in his white robe/Jesus outfit

this man was very reverent about his purpose.

He was very humbly portraying the greatest most perfect man to ever walk the Earth

our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

I cannot imagine how he felt

but his genetics created for him a way to bring the Spirit into the homes of many as they look at these pictures of "Jesus Christ"

I felt very at peace, and very humble myself even just imagining what it might be like to meet Jesus someday.

I was filled with the Spirit

even now as I recall this memory as a fourteen/fifteen year old better understanding what it might have been like to actually literally

"walk with Him"

I changed into my New Testament clothes

my job was to portray the woman taken in adultery

of course I was like:

"Really dad?!? REALLY! Adultery...."

smh

but wow what a respect I gained for her and a love for the scriptures, especially that story

it came alive

After those pictures were taken, there were a few other different shots the photographer asked me to be part of at a different location in the same park.

Without even realizing what he was saying, the photographer pointed to "Jesus" and said to me:

"Just follow him over there, he's been there before"

as we walked to the next location I contemplated what I was doing

I was following close behind this man whom I don't know his actual name

again putting myself literally behind the "Savior"

I can remember thinking that I just wanted to walk exactly where his footsteps were going between the sage brush and in the tall dry grasses.

I felt so strongly the Spirit imagining literally following Jesus Christ and making a promise to myself and to Him that I would.

It has been only on my mission that I have realized

that following Christ is less like walking right behind Him

and a lot more like Him walking right beside us on a path that He already walked, alone.

When we rely on His strength and atonement, we get closer and closer to Him

not because He is way out in front of us and we need to reach him

but because He is next to us, and each step we take in the right direction, He takes a sidestep closer so we can become ONE with Him.

When we take steps in the wrong direction,

He must move further away until we flip around and find

He. Will. Carry. Us.

He was right there carrying the pioneers as they walked and walked and walked and walked.

He is right here carrying us when we are suffering pain, heart aches, back aches, blood clots, big jumps, steep climbs, plane rides to the DomRep CCM, drives to the cemetery to cherish a loved one that passed away 19 years ago yesterday.

"He is with us, He is with us ALWAYS"

-----------------------------------------------------------

Ya'll I have something to say about Johnny

I usually do

yesterday when we got to Rhodas for her to take the three of us to church as usual, someone followed her out

IT WAS JOHNNY

HE CAME TO CHURCH ahhhhh we were so excited, Rhoda was in tears.

How did that happen?

miracles and prayers ya'll

The day before, after a lesson with them I realized I forgot to invite him to church like I always do

it has become sort of a joke because he always says, "I'll think about it"

and never goes.

Well I had forgotten, so I called him on the way to the next appointment and said,

"Johnny, I forgot something."

J: "What? Let me take a look see.. nope you got all your stuff."

Me: "Yeah, but I think i forgot something else."

J: "Nope, I don't see anything."

Me: "................I forgot my dog."

he burst out laughing and I could hear Rhoda in the background laughing as well

We have a running joke every time we visit them he says, "you forgot your dog."

<talking about Charley their weiner dog>

He tells us to take him every time and we don't so when we come again we always say

"Shoot, we forgot our dog last time we were here."

so after saying that on the phone we all laughed and he said,

"It's against your rules to have pets anyway!!!"

Johnny informed us at that visit that he had googled Mormon Missionaries and found the Missionary Handbook, and read the whole thing. LOL

(wish he would read the Book of Mormon like that;)

Well after we laughed I said,

"I'm just kidding I forgot to invite you to church. You know I'm speaking tomorrow."

J: "You're speaking tomorrow?"

long pause

"I'll think about it"

Well he came and the Spirit was awesome and we were so happy, and not only that, but Brenda and Roland came, and so did Chloe and her grandma. It was such a happy day in the Jay branch.

among other things

-Diane was sustained as the Jay branch chorister

She is SO nervous

but excited

-her grandaughter who we have been teaching taught me all the moves to the whip and nay nay

-we played games last p day with Curtis and Rachel, they made us fried chicken that was bomb, and we had some really amazing lessons with them that strengthened my testimony so incredibly much

-my last Zone Conference. We sang the FTM song, that was so surreal

- found some new investigators that gave us a fake address so we went on a wild goose chase for the return appointment, but we saw a really pretty lake that we didn't know existed so all is well in zion. It's called Buddy Lake and I'm pretty sure I'm finna buy the house that is for sale on that lake. Dad.. seriously check that place out. It's super old and cabiny, a real fixer upper, but right on a lake. Buddy lake.

-So many other things that I don't have time to tell you. Again, safely documented in my journal.